Page 142 of The Space Between Stars

She fidgeted. “Theoretically. I’ve only tried it twice.”

And she hadn’t moved very far.

“Yes!”

Allying with Raimee came with unprecedented dangers. It was unsustainable for her to drain her own energy to distort the way she had been, and he was sure she was at her limit.

“Calver…” She swallowed and gave him a sad smile that pierced something vital in him. “You know all there is to know of me. I don’t have anything to lose.”

For eight years he’d run from Cul’Mon. Not any more. If Calver and Raimee came to him, they could fight him on their own terms. And with the ambush planned in Steila, he’d be distracted. For the first time, Calver would give his old master exactly what he wanted—a Ruxian and a Conduit—but this time, he would be the one two steps ahead.

So long as the Red Wing survived. Taking on Cul’Mon would be pointless if his entire army was available to back him up.

He wouldn’t say ‘promise me’. He couldn’t let her future be tied to the way he felt about it.

“And if you can stop them, what would you have me do?”

She gave him a long, scrutinizing look. “I just need you to tell me you’re one of them.”

THIRTY-FOUR

FANKALO

Year: 741 Post Cataclysm: Seven Years Previously

Location: South Sea

The lowsun was clawing golden streaks across the horizon when Fankalo finished an over-long shift, only to be summoned to an unexpected meeting in the resource room. Mitek waited for her, tanned boots kicked up on the table, shining hair strewn over one shoulder, newly grown mustache perfectly primped and waxed. He flipped a dagger over his head like he was trying to lodge it into the ceiling with a toss. By the marks in the wood above, he probably was. Idiot. When he saw her, he flashed his usual thousand-mile grin.

“You called?” she grumbled.

It was late in the summer, and the day had been saltier and stickier that one of Cam’s whores. They’d plundered as much as the ship could reasonably hold, but still had a full day until they reached Casowhatan to sell their wins. Her motivation to do anything besides close her eyes in a hammock was as nonexistent as the ocean was wet.

“I have a present for you.”

“You know how I feel about presents.”

“You’re going to like this one.” Mitek’s eyes glinted and he extended pinched fingers, like he might be handing her a pebble. “Eah?” He waggled them back and forth.

It probably was a fated pebble. She wouldn’t put it past Mitek to get excited over a shiny rock. Fankalo stretched out her hand. He planted a pill on her palm.

Her brows pinched. “What is it?”

“It’s an encapsulation.”

“Of?”

“Poisons.”

Her mouth quirked. “Hmm. Who are we taking out?”

His grin widened. “It’s for you.”